There are numerous essential skills and habits you need in order to work well with others. Developing the proper habits, early on, helps put you on track to things like higher pay and leadership opportunities. Since more and more companies are making the decision to hire within, these things are more important than ever before.
Many of these things will probably seem obvious to you. However, if they were obvious to everyone, they wouldn’t need to be listed. Please note, this isn’t a complete list of the skills and habits you need to succeed, but it definitely gives you a good place to start. As you can probably see, a lot of these suggestions don’t take much more effort than remembering them. There’s no reason to panic and think you have to change your entire way of life.
1. Take Responsibility
It’s
always important to take responsibility for things that you do, especially when
something goes wrong. No one is perfect. All but a few unrealistic employers
realize that. If you make a mistake and claim that it wasn’t your fault, not
only are you not telling the truth, you’re also giving the impression that you
weren’t in control of the situation.
By taking
responsibility, you’ll probably notice two things. Firstly, your co-workers
will likely be more willing to help you correct the problem and help you to
succeed. Secondly, these same individuals will be more comfortable around you,
knowing that you are honest and will never place the blame on someone else.
2. Keep an Open Mind
Even in
situations where you know you are 100 percent correct, it’s always advisable to
keep an open mind. This is especially true when you happen to be in a
managerial position. Why? If you’re never open to new or alternate ideas, you
may come across as someone who knows it all. When this happens, people
typically get defensive very quickly and it’s downhill from there.
It’s much more productive to show a little bit of humility and concern about truly finding the right answer for every issue and situation. Because everyone has a different problem-solving process, teamwork really has the potential to resolve issues and come up with great ideas much faster.
3. Honor Your Commitments
Always
try to allow enough time to complete projects in a timely manner, even when
something unexpected comes up. It’s much better to give yourself more time than
necessary to finish whenever you’re working on, rather than to underestimate
the time needed to complete the assignment. This way, you don’t have to worry
about disappointing your employer or your colleagues.
Go the
extra mile. Always follow up on things, whenever possible. This accomplishes
two things. One, it strengthens workplace relationships. Two, it provides you
with important feedback regarding your performance.
4. Practice Proper Hygiene
Regardless
of whether you’re working with the public or in a back office, practicing
proper hygiene is essential when you work with others. No one wants to be
around someone who smells bad or looks like they slept in their clothing. This
doesn’t mean you have to dress like the rich and famous. It simply means to
shower daily and come to work looking and smelling presentable.
If you’re
on a tight budget, consider purchasing clothing at local thrift stores. You can
pick up great deals on clothing that’s perfectly suitable for work. These
stores typically stock a wide variety of business attire at fantastic prices.
You just have to be there at the right time, which is on the days that the
store gets deliveries.
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5. Turn Off Your Phone
Almost everyone has a cell phone these days. If you work in a large office, constant ringing can be a major distraction. Unless you need your phone for work purposes, turn it off or put it away. Quickly reading a text message when someone is speaking to you is extremely rude. It gives the impression that your phone is more important than your job. Make a habit of checking your messages or making quick calls during your breaks or lunch period.
6. Don’t
Interrupt
Have you
ever been in the middle of a conversation, only to be constantly interrupted?
It’s annoying, isn’t it? For that reason, never be “the interrupter.” Even if
you have a great idea that you can’t wait to share, wait until it’s your turn
to talk. Take a deep breath and relax. You’ll be sharing your news or idea
before you know it.
Here’s a
little secret. There are individuals who aren’t all that impressed when you
talk, regardless of how fantastic your idea. These people would much rather
talk about themselves. So, when you let them do the talking first, it’s a good
way to get them to love you. After that, they may be all the more receptive to
what you say.
7. Smile
The act
of smiling is often referred to as a person’s most powerful gesture. Science
can back up the fact that individuals who smile often are not only happier,
they’re more successful as well. Even better - smiling doesn’t cost you a
penny. It’s free to smile and watch the world (or at least the people you work
with) smile right back at you.
It’s interesting to note that some training modules for phone-related customer service positions requires agents to keep a small mirror by their phone. This way, the agent can make sure they’re smiling when they speak to the customer. Believe it or not, the person at the other end of the receiver can usually hear the smile in the agent’s voice. It makes for a much more pleasant interaction between the two, and many times higher sales.
8. Don’t Be a Noise Maker
In the
event your employer allows you to listen to music or something similar, don’t
be a noisemaker. Wear headphones or keep the volume at a non-distracting level.
Remember, not everyone will have the same taste in music as you do. If your
co-workers don’t enjoy what they hear, you’ll probably make it more difficult
for them to concentrate and get their job done properly. The time to make noise
is after the workday is done, unless you’re a rock musician or an auctioneer.
9. Respect Boundaries
Your job
might require you to share a space with your co-workers, whether it’s a
cubicle, office, or vehicle. If you are near others while you work, make sure
that you respect their boundaries and encourage them to respect yours in
return.
Try not
to have phone calls about non-work-related matters if your cubicle mate is
quietly focused on a project. Also, try not to divulge too much about your
personal life, because this may be too much information for some people. These
boundaries will differ from person to person, so if you aren't sure if you
behavior is going to annoy your co-worker, it may be best to ask first.
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10. Learn to Let Go
Once
you've had a dispute with a co-worker, it can be difficult to get your
relationship with them back to a state where you can work together effectively.
If the dispute has been resolved, the best thing that you can do is move on to
focus on work. Of course, your co-worker will have to focus on letting go too.
If they still seem upset over the issue, see if they're willing to talk about it. If they tell you why they're still not satisfied after the dispute was settled, do what you can to make things right between the two of you. If problems persist between the two of you, it may be best to inform your boss or supervisor.
In
conclusion, keep the following motivational quotes in mind. Better yet, write each
of them on a Post-it note and stick them around your workstation. Remember,
motivation is contagious. Why not help to spread around and make your work
environment a friendlier and more productive place. Your co-workers will
undoubtedly thank you for it!
Note:
“Always do your best. Don’t stop
just because someone doesn’t give you credit.” ~ Mary Rosen